Northcliffe
Located 360km south of Perth, Northcliffe has the unique distinction of being the only town founded in WA specifically for the First World War Group Settlement Scheme. There is an old fashioned country, community spirit that is still alive in Northcliffe, which has existed since the early settlement days.
{media-1}This country hospitality extends to the local retailers who give friendly, personal service to their customers. A town where Track walkers’ individual needs are catered for; shops sell produce in small amounts to suit walkers, such as small packets of food including nuts, dried fruit, cereals and much more. All can be purchased by the 100 grams.
Accommodation providers offering walkers free eggs for breakfast and free pick up from the Visitor Centre, all part of the old fashioned service and hospitality. There are even old fashioned hamburgers -those ones with egg, bacon, cheese, tomato, lettuce, beetroot, everything to eat in or take away.
Northcliffe has accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from luxury chalets situated amongst towering Karri to home style B&Bs where you can rise early and help feed the calves. In town there is a choice of hotel or motel accommodation. Most accommodation providers offer free pick up from the Visitor Centre.
The Northcliffe Visitor Centre, library, telecentre, the Painted Tree Gallery and entrance to the Southern Forest Sculpture Park are all housed in the one building on Muirillup Road Northcliffe.
From the visitor information centre you can access the stunning sculpture walk trail – Understory. Understory is a nationally unique art in nature experience that everyone can enjoy. Artworks are located along a 1.2km walk trail through pristine native forest. Forty artists, international, interstate and local contributed to the sculptures exhibited in the park. Choose from five different audio tours to complement your experience. The Painted Tree Gallery holds regular exhibitions for artist, photographers and potters.
To get a feeling for life as it was for early European settlers browse the historical collection at the Northcliffe Pioneer Museum.
Northcliffe is the gateway to D’Entrecasteaux National Park and Windy Harbour. The road to the popular holiday and fishing village of Windy Harbour takes you past Mt. Chudalup, a granite monolith which rises above the surrounding karri forests and coastal heathland. The 1.5km steep walk trail leads you through coastal karri forest and over moss and lichen covered rock to the summit. The view from the top rewards the visitor with a spectacular panorama of the surrounding park and coast line. In spring many wildflowers and orchids can be found along the track and also on the summit. The park is a bird watchers paradise.
Northcliffe was surveyed in 1923 for the Group Settlement scheme in which forest areas were cleared for farming and for forest industries. Apart from land clearing, the trees of the forest were felled to make sleepers for railway lines, and for construction purposes in Australia and Europe. Northcliffe was named after the newspaper baron whose papers promoted the scheme. The timber industry was a significant source of employment. More recently grapes, marron, olives and walnuts have been successfully introduced into the region.
Up & down the Track
Local transport operators provide transfers to the Bibbulmun Track. See contact details in the list below.
Pemberton is 37km north of Northcliffe – a 30 minute drive The walk between Pemberton and Northcliffe (55.3km) takes approximately three days, two nights.
Walpole is 100km south-east of Northcliffe – a drive of around an hour and 10 minutes along the South West Highway The walk between the two towns (137.1km), takes eight or nine days.
For travel details to Northcliffe view the Section by Section guide.
Accommodation & Services
The range of accommodation includes hotels, motels, B&Bs, several farm stays, self contained chalets and caravan parks. Dining options in Northcliffe include hotel, restaurant and cafe food. Takeaway is also available.
The town has a general store and newsagent which also stocks camping gear, including gas refills, a few medicines and a bottle shop. You’ll also find a post office, internet access, a nursing post and visitor information centre Parks and Wildlife has an office in town.
Please support our Walker Friendly Businesses.
Karri Country Good Food is a community owned wholefoods and local produce store operated by a team of friendly local volunteers. We stock all kinds of dried and fresh trail foods to keep you powered up and ready to walk. We can pack to required quantities in ziplock bags for Bibbulmun Track walkers. Contact us […]
Mob: 0455 628 097
13 Wheatley Coast Road Northcliffe 6262
The Family and Community Centre is a place where individuals can seek information, community groups can meet, workshops and events are facilitated, and where the local youth group meets. It provides support to individuals, families, children and youth, creates opportunities for social interaction, self development and learning and is a multipurpose venue.
58 Zamia St Northcliffe 6262
